Al Salam Street Tunnel speed limit between 60-80kmph?

Panel mulls banning trucks and heavy vehicles

The joint committee for management of accidents in the new Al Salam Street Tunnel on Tuesday discussed fixing speeds in the tunnel between 60-80 km per hour.

It also discussed the need for enacting rules prohibiting the passage of heavy vehicles and trucks through the tunnel.

The committee noted that Al Salam Street Tunnel would be kept under a trial period before it is officially opened to verify the capabilities and safety of all systems in the tunnel and ensure the safety of all associated facilities, lanes and emergency exits.

It underscored the importance of adopting the highest standards to ensure safety of tunnel users, capitalising on sophisticated technologies in surveillance and control operations, and boosting the capabilities of operators in coping with any developments or emergencies, particularly with regard to traffic accidents and fires through adopting the latest international practices of managing similar tunnels.

The committee held its second meeting at the head office of the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City.

The joint committee consists of members from the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, Abu Dhabi Police (Traffic - and Civil Defence), Department of Transport, and the National Crisis and Emergency Management Authority (NCEMA).

The committee also approved a number of workshops to be held to train operators on the use of surveillance, control and firefighting devices inside the tunnel, along with the use of emergency exits and rooms inside the tunnel as well as imparting to all workers the skills of coping with any developments or emergencies.

Abdullah Al Shamsi, Acting Executive Director of Infrastructure and Municipal Assets Sector at the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City, stressed on the importance of the management of the tunnel at world-class standards by using sophisticated technologies to ensure security and flexible flow of traffic.